Sectional centerboard for vessels.



PATENTED AUG. 15, 1905.

V L. OGIDINSSEN.

SEOTIONAL GENTERBOARD FOR VESSELS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 6,1905.

UNITE STATES PATENT FFICE.

SECTIONAL UENTERBOARD FOR VESSELSQ Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1905 Application filed February 6. 1905. Serial No. 24:4.461.

To It?! who/1t it um/y con/corn:

Be it known that I,V1eeo L.Oe1n1NssnN,a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Sectional Centerboards for Vessels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to centerboards for vessels. Its objects are to provide a centerboard which will. .not require the cutting in two of the vessel along the keel, as is now customary, and which weakens the vessel considerably; to avoid having the large heavy casings in the hold, as at present, and which. add to the weight of the vessel and take up so much room as to be a continual detriment in loading and unloading; to add to the efficiency of the used surface of the centerboard to prevent a vessel making leeway, (with ordinary centerboards only half of their surfaces is available for that purpose,) and, finally, to distribute the strain from the centerboard more evenly over the vessels keel and body.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows the application of my invention to a ship. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one section of centerboard. Fig. 3 is a section through same. Figs. 4 and 5 are views of T connections. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of forward section. Fig. 7 is an end view of T-slot. Fig. 8 is a section through forward T-piece, showing scraper construction.

In carrying out my invention I employ a suitable number of sections A, of wood or iron, of suitable length, depth, and thickness, attached pivotally and centrally along their upper edges to T-pieces 2, which slide in a corresponding T groove or guideway 3, extending along the keel and up the inclined trunk 4 at the rear of the Vessel. The ends of the T-pieces are all connected together by wires, ropes, or chains 5 in such fashion-that the sections may all be extended into line beneath the vessel and their meeting edges brought snug together without either drawing orleaving any slack in the chains. The chains have suitable swivel connections 6 with the ends of the cross-pieces of the TS to allow them to readily accommodate themselves to any angles around which they may have to pass. The foremost "l" is connected by a chainbridle 7 to a cable 8, which runs through a tubular aperture 9 in the fore foot in advance of the forward end of the groove 3 and thence up around a sheave 10 to a drum 1.1. From the latter extends either a continuation of cable 8 or a separate one 12 to the rear of the vessel around direction-rollers 13 and down the trunk l to attach to the rearmost of the T-pieces. Thus by winding the drum 1 1 in one direction or the other the line of "if-pieces, which are adapted each to carry a respective centerboard-section, is moved back and forth along the keel of the vessel or entirely removed through the trunk 4 to the deck. Preferably the sections are each in the form of a parallelogram. with the front edge sloping down and forward and with the after edge grooved to receive the tongue 14 on the forward edge of the next succeeding section. This diagonal construction of the sections readily adapts them to pass around the curved junction of the trunk and keel and gives a greater binding area between the sections; by causing them to interlock when extended in operative position along the keel, forms a rigid structure and diminishes twisting strains on the Ts. The sections are of such length as to be 0011* veniently handled. In cross-section they are preferably tapered or wedge -shaped to decrease their weight without too much diminishing their strength. If desired, where the sections are of wood they may be metalbound along their upper and rear edges, as shown at 15. The trunk 4: need only be of such size and shape as readily to pass the sections through it under the keel. The trunk is enlarged at its upper end to form a hatch way 16 for the attachment and detachment of single sections, the Ts being pivotallyheld in a suitable socket in the sections by the removable pivot-pins 17.

A flexible sectional centerboard of this type may be moved back and forth at will to trim the ship according to her load or according to the directon of the wind relative to the course being followed. For instance, when the vessel is running before the wind the vessel manages better with the centerboard farther aft than. when she is running by the wind or beating against it. When operating in shallow water, the centerboard can be removed entirely to the deck, the sections being detached singly as they are brought up into the hatch-opening 16. The shifting back and forth of the centerboard is easily effected by the drum 1 1 and cables 8 12.

To rid the groove 3 of all fouling matter which might prevent the readysln'fting of the centerboard, the foremost T-piece may be shaped like a scraper, as shown at 18, to clean out the groove as the centerboard is moved forward.

It is possible that various modifications in my invention may be made without departing from the principle thereof, and I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the specific construction as herein shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a vessel having a guide on its bottom, of a centerboard mount ed to slide longitudinally along said guide.

2. The combination with a vessel having a guide on its bottom and extending substan tially the length thereof, of a sectional centerboard slidably mounted on the guide, and means for sliding said centerboard fore and aft.

3. The combination with a vessel having a guide extending substantially the length of its bottom, of a centerboard slidably mounted on the guide and shiftable relative thereto to lengthen and shorten the board.

4. The combination with a vessel of a centerboard therefor composed of a series of flexible conjoined sections, guides along the bottom of the vessel in which said sections are slidable, and means for moving the sections in said guides.

5. The combination with a vessel of a centerboard therefor, guides formed on the bot tom of the vessel in which said centerboard is slidable, and means for shifting the position of said centerboard in said guides.

6. The combination with a vessel of guides on the bottom of the vessel and running fore and aft, a sectional centerboard operatable in said guides, means for shifting the position of the centerboard therein, and means permitting of the-removal of the centerboard from beneath the vessel.

7. The combination with a vessel, of guides on the bottom thereof and running fore and aft, a centerboard movable in said guides, and means operatable on the vessel to shift the position of the centerboard in said guides or to remove it entirely from the bottom of the vessel or to replace it in position therebeneath.

8. The combination with a vessel of guides extending fore and aft on the bottom of the vessel, a sectional centerboard slidable in said guide, said vessel having a trunk for the removal and insertion of the centerboard into the guides and means for operating the centerboard in said trunk and guides.

9. The combination with a vessel, of guides on the bottom thereof and extending fore and aft, of a sectional centerboard slidable longitudinally along said guide, means engaging the guide for pivotally suspending each section beneath the vessel, means for maintaining the alinement of the sections, and means for sliding the section in unison fore and aft.

10. The combination with a vessel of a T- guide formed along the keel of the vessel, flexible conjoined T-pieces slidable in said guide, intermatching centerboard sections carried by said T-pieces, and means for reciprocating the latter in unison.

11. The combination in a vessel of a guide on the bottom of the vessel, a centerboard including a series of flexible conjoined parallelogrammatic sections each having means slidably engaging the guide and pivotally suspending the section, and means operable on the vessel whereby the sections may be removed from the guide and replaced there- 1n.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

VIGGO L. OGIDINSSEN.

lVitnesses:

HENRY P. TRIOOU, S. H. N OURSE. 

